When to take sleeping tablets

Thursday, June 15, 2017 by Chris Hocking

Given what we know about the negative impact on your health if you aren’t sleeping well, sleeping tablets may help. However, there can be a real stigma attached to the notion of sleeping tablets. A possible reason for this stigma is that when we read about sleeping pills, it is often attached to a negative story of misuse. Nevertheless, if used correctly there could be significant benefits to the individual’s health and well-being.

What do sleeping tablets do?

Sleeping tablets are designed to induce drowsiness. They are usually short-acting and are not necessarily effective in maintaining sleep (keeping you asleep).

Some sleeping tablets are made specifically to aid sleep, while others are used because their side effect includes sedation.

You must only ever use sleeping tablets when prescribed by a qualified doctor.

Types of sleeping pills

Sleeping pills may be prescribed by a doctor to help in the temporary treatment of mild sleeping disorders like infrequent insomnia.

Sleeping pills are NOT recommended to treat chronic sleep problems as they can have severe side effects and can become addictive.

The following are just a few examples of the types of sleeping pills that are often used to manage insomnia.

Benzodiazepines

These pills have sedative effects that are typically short acting and therefore can quickly help you fall asleep. You can only get them on prescription because they can cause physical dependence and addiction. Common brand names are Temazepam, Mogadon, Serepax. Some benzodiazepines (Xanax and Valium) are primarily prescribed to treat anxiety (see anxiolytics below).

Non-benzodiazepines

These pills also have sedative effects but have a different mechanism that regulates inhibitory GABA receptors in the brain. They are prescription-only. Some common brand names are Ambien, Stilnox, Lunesta, Sonata.

Anxiolytics

Two of the most commonly prescribed tablets, Xanax and Valium are not designed to aid with sleep; instead, they are used to treat anxiety. Since they are benzodiazepines, they also have sedative effects and as such may induce drowsiness and help someone get to sleep. Unfortunately for this reason, they are often misused. Xanax is the number one prescribed medication in the US across all kinds of drugs.

Anti-depressants

Tri-cyclic anti-depressants are primarily used to treat depression (in Australia and the UK) but can also be used to treat insomnia in the USA. Some common brand names are Silenor and Sinequan.

Anti-histamines

These drugs are typically used to treat allergic reactions (e.g., itching, sneezing) and inflammatory responses and can typically be bought over the counter. They have sedating effects however, which can sometimes be long-lasting and may affect activities like driving in the hours after waking.

Side effects of sleeping tablets

This list is not exhaustive and not all types of sleeping tablets result in all of the following. Side effects are dependent on the type of tablet you have, how often you take it, and your own personal health. They may include:

Dizziness

Blurred vision

Headache

Stomach pains

Shaking

Headache

If you suffer from any of the above, consult your doctor.

How sleeping pills are misused

When they are used as a long-term solution

As you likely already know, you should not take sleeping pills for more than a few weeks as they are what we call “habit-forming”. Those who take sleeping pills beyond when they need to can quickly develop a reliance on them, resulting in severe withdrawal when use is stopped.

Once a habit is formed, it is even harder to break. Stopping chronic use of sleeping tablets can result in anxiety, shaking and an increased risk of injury and accidents. Ironically, it can also worsen insomnia.

The body will develop a tolerance to sleeping tablets after three to 14 days. This means that within two weeks you will require a higher dosage to get the same effect as earlier. Other potential effects include developing a physical dependence on the pills which can lead to difficulty getting to sleep and anxiety when stopping use of the pills.

When they are mixed with other medication or alcohol

We all know this: mixing sleeping tablets with alcohol can be dangerous.

Both are sedatives, and a potent combination may cause someone to stop breathing and suffer cardiac arrest. It can also result in sleepwalking which can end in injury and accidents.

Finding solutions to a sleeping issue

While sleeping tablets can help with mild or short-term insomnia, if your sleeping problems persist for longer than a week or two, sleeping tablets will not help.

They should not be used to treat chronic sleep issues - there are other things you should do if you are persistently suffering from sleep problems and we explore them below.

Improving your sleep habits

Sleeping pills aren’t the only choice you have when it comes to resolving persistent sleep issues or improving the quality of sleep you receive.

Relaxation techniques

Do something relaxing in the 30-60 minutes leading up to bedtime

Avoid working on a laptop or using your smartphone before bed – the short wavelength blue light emitted from the screens can suppress melatonin production

If you can’t fall asleep within 20 minutes, get up, leave your bedroom and do something relaxing like reading a book or listening to music (but don’t use electronic devices)

Develop (and stick to) a sleep schedule

Look at your bedroom

Remove the TV

Make sure your room is not too hot or cold

Make sure window coverings are sufficient to block out light and help muffle external sound

Do not eat or use your laptop in bed

If sleeping problems persist, the best thing you can do is see your doctor who will be able to prescribe or recommend treatment, or ascertain whether there is any underlying sleep disorder, like insomnia or sleep apnoea.